on the loose

idiom

: able to move freely : not controlled or held in a prison, cage, etc.
used especially to describe a dangerous person, animal, or group
The prisoner escaped and is still on the loose.
A killer is on the loose.
An angry mob was on the loose.

Examples of on the loose in a Sentence

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But the bodies of young men continued to stack up after Bonin’s capture, leading investigators to believe another killer was on the loose. Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025 As the casualties have mounted, locals have speculated on everything from the birds being electrocuted by power lines to a phantom serial bird killer being on the loose. Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 12 May 2025 Newsletter Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news There’s a new type of criminal on the loose. Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 8 May 2025 Flaco’s Kingdom: Before his demise, the Eurasian eagle-owl’s escape from the Central Park Zoo and subsequent life on the loose captured the public’s attention and hearts. Kholood Eid, New York Times, 2 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for on the loose

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Cite this Entry

“On the loose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20loose. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

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